Camargue i Frankrike - de vita hästarnas land

On the way to Arles we drove past the beautiful Camargue. Made up of 140,000 hectares of wetlands created by the Rhone Delta, the area is famous for its white horses, black bulls and flamingos. And sure enough, we always saw white horses and black bulls - lots of them!

Camargue in France

The Camargue is a French river delta area found to the south of the city. Arles. At 930 km², the Camargue is the largest river delta in Western Europe. It consists of a vast plain with several saline lagoons, cut off from the sea by sandbanks and reeds. There are also large cultivated areas.

About a third of the Camargue is made up of wetlands, and in 1986 these were designated as 'wetlands of international importance' under the Ramsar Convention. The area is important as a refuge for wild birds, but is best known for its white horses, black bulls and pink flamingos.

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Horses and bulls - but no flamingos

We could see the white horses everywhere, and at close range. We also saw black bulls, but at such a long distance that we had to zoom in a lot. However, we did not see any flamingos. By the way, the bulls are not killed in the Provencal bullfights, but instead you pick red bows from their heads with a small hook. Much nicer, isn't it?

Svarta tjurar i Camargue — Black bulls in the Camargue

17 Comments

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Mr Steve says:

The thrill of travelling through legendary areas.
Sympathetic form of bullfighting, the Provencal one.

06 May 2015 - 12:49

Lena in Wales says:

How lovely! Black bulls and flamingos!
When you asked for suggestions on where to go in the south of France, I forgot about Palavas, totally out of my mind until I saw the pictures and was reminded, but wouldn't have remembered the name myself.
Take care!

06 May 2015 - 13:06

Rantamor on the retina says:

Wonderful trip you are doing.

Tjingelingen from Rantamor.

06 May 2015 - 13:23

Bosse and Gerd says:

We missed the Camargue when we had left Palavas les Flots on our way up to Gruissan, but we'll do it in the autumn when we head back down to Spain for our 3rd winter.

06 May 2015 - 13:55

Ditte says:

The Camargue is beautiful and you got to see beautiful nature, horses and the black bulls. If you had stayed longer, you might have seen the occasional flamingo.
Here we have many of them up by the Saltsjöarna, but no white horses or black bulls.
Thank you for letting me come here again.

06 May 2015 - 15:14

Comment by post author

admin says:

Steve, agree! This sounds like a great bullfighting variation!

Lena in Wales, nice that you have been here too! It's hard to include all the places we were told about, but we're glad we visited Palavas!

Rantamor, yes, and extra lovely now that the heat is really coming!

Bosse and Gerd, it's hard to see all the places, we realise that too! It's good that you have several winter trips on your list!

Ditte, maybe you have to turn down somewhere on the smaller roads to see flamingos. But I was very happy to see the white horses!

06 May 2015 - 15:43

Annika says:

Yes, what an exciting route. Glad you got to see the white horses.
Who knows, the pink flamingos might show up too 🙂 .
That kind of bullfighting sounds good.

06 May 2015 - 15:57

BP says:

The Camargue is amazing! Glad you saw some of it!

06 May 2015 - 16:26

Travelmania says:

Wow, how much you want to go there! It looks beautiful!

06 May 2015 - 17:45

Ulla & Torgny says:

Oh, how nice you have it and how nice places you find. We have driven past Arles, but we have camped in Cap de Agde on several occasions. Spring is getting started here at home too, nothing to complain about, although it could be warmer.

Take care and drive carefully!

06 May 2015 - 19:04

Comment by post author

admin says:

Annika, like this bullfight much better! And the white horses were nice!

BP, we just drove past by car... but what we saw was very nice!

Travelmania, we just passed by, but what we saw was very nice!

Ulla & Torgny, fun that you camped in Cap d'Agde! We stayed there for a long time. Nice to hear that you feel the spring in Sweden. Even if it is slower in Sweden, it is the most beautiful season you are facing!

06 May 2015 - 20:33

Helena says:

Someday I want to go there, it would be so much fun to see all the white horses 🙂.

07 May 2015 - 13:10

steel city anna says:

What beautiful rushes. Fairy tale animals! I'm also very happy about the rosettes and the bulls 🙂.

07 May 2015 - 16:39

Sack and sandals says:

Cool! Carague is a very exciting area. Can recommend the Gypsy Festival in the small town of St. Marie de la mer at the end of May. Fantastic event with lots of people, music and food 🙂 .

07 May 2015 - 22:41

Elisabeth says:

White and black against the green!!!

07 May 2015 - 23:19

Inga M says:

Sounds like a more sympathetic type of bullfighting?

11 May 2015 - 6:50

Comment by post author

admin says:

Helena, I didn't know if you could see them, but we saw many everywhere!

Steel city Anna, I also think it feels like a much better version of bullfighting!

Sekk og Sandaler, many thanks for the tip! We are actually thinking about that festival, will see if we can make it fit in time!

Elisabeth, what a contrast! And beautiful animals!

No M, can only agree!

11 May 2015 - 10:55

Camargue in France - land of the white horses

Camargue in France

Horses and bulls - but no flamingos

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17 Comments

Mr Steve says:

Lena in Wales says:

Rantamor on the retina says:

Bosse and Gerd says:

Ditte says:

admin says:

Annika says:

BP says:

Travelmania says:

Ulla & Torgny says:

admin says:

Helena says:

steel city anna says:

Sack and sandals says:

Elisabeth says:

Inga M says:

admin says:

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